[dunosaur14]

do just go there and play with who ever? and what if they are really serious and they say crap to me since im a noob because idk any calls and stuff

[TheAznInvazn]

Yep, that's how it usually goes

So what, everyone was a noob once.
If you're that afraid of being made fun of, than don't even go outside, stay home and do nothing where it's safe and where no one will tell you anything.

[dunosaur14]

Thats tru because i really want to get into the sport and i am good against my friends that do go to fields when we play in the woods

[TheAznInvazn]

Just have fun, who cares what other people say

[Db0ne]

Never had I had somebody talk smack about somebody else. Most refs would love to help you and most players will do the same.
For me, the i've met only three a holes on the three fields I play on. 2 were the owners, and one was a tough guy.

[Crawdaddy]

I've seen a few confused noobies at fields before and to prevent you from wandering around like a brain damaged puppy here is a quick rundown.


Before heading out to the field make sure they allow "walk-ons" some fields are by appointment only, some have designated days for walk-ons, and some allow walk-ons all the time. You don't want to show up and find the field locked up because you didn't call ahead. By the same token you don't want to get there and find that little Timmy's birthday party has the field booked and you aren't welcome to join. When you call also use the opportunity to see if they allow you to bring your own paint. They will probably just laugh but it never hurts to ask. Depending on your age you may need your mommy to sign a permission form. Try to hang back a bit to preserve your pride.


When you get to the field look for where you sign in. There will probably be a bored looking teenager manning a counter or if you are lucky a line up. You will need to sign a form agreeing not to sue if you die on the field and to provide a number to call to inform your next of kin. You will also have to pay the field fee and buy your paint here.

Your next step is to find a table or an unoccupied clearing to deposit your gear a "base camp" if you will. If you've arrived a bit late the regulars will have poached all the good spots take note for next time and look for some nice floor real estate. Load up your pods and gas up your marker. Make sure you have a barrel condom/cover and that you are using it! Maybe your friends don't care but field operators and most players are dead serious about safety and if you don't want to piss anyone off or be booted from the field you should make safety your number one priority.

After loading up your paint and becoming one with marker safety you now need to chronograph your marker. Make sure you have your mask handy and look for the chronograph station. If you are wearing a handy four leaf clover there might be sign saying "chronograph station" but since that is rarely the case listen for the agglets shooting. No matter where you play there will be kids showing off how fast their markers can shoot and it is usually over the chronograph.

If you don't know how to use it just ask and if you don't want to admit that you are new just say you don't know how that particular kind of chronograph works. Everyone will still know you are new but you can pretend otherwise. The point of the chronograph is to make sure you are shooting under the field velocity limit usually 280fps if you don't know the field limit ASK!!! If a ref finds you are shooting over the limit you could get the boot or even hurt someone. If you hurt someone you will likely get a permaboot and how embarrassing would that be? Be sure you know how to adjust your marker's velocity (for extra veteran points bring the proper allen key) put on your mask and fire over the chronograph to find your velocity and adjust up or down accordingly. When you get it shooting where you want it to put your barrel cover back on and head back to your floor clearing.

Some fields that cater largely to renters may not let you chronograph your own marker instead a staff member will do it for you. Also some fields will have a ref supervising the chronograph and will put a small ribbon or piece of tape on your marker saying that it is within field limits. Again if you are unsure just ask. Safety questions are always well received and people will think you some kind of paintball super god or at least a noobie with his head in the right place.

Prepare to be saluted for you are now about to rock.

[TheAznInvazn]

Nice write up!

~sniff sniff~
I smell a sticky

:P

[2.0]

fields i play at are all by appointment, so i have to ensure every so often we have enough people to play the next week. The booking part cycles around our group, so it's cool, but often a drag when we can't make enough people to go play that weekend.

[peachesaretasty]

thats the way to go. i always try to get everyone i knows number in case i want to call them and have a great amount of fun. but meeting people is also very fun. enjoy yourself, and relax. those there for a more serious purpose are just missing out on the fun part of when you are new. you can meet new friends, paintball buddies, some refs, and maybe a guy or two thatll help fix whatevers broken, answer your questions, and might even give you some free stuff.

[tlmiller]

I usually just show up and play. If people I know show up, GREAT. If not, oh well, I'll meet people there. I'm lucky in that I'm within an hour drive of 4 or 5 fields, and all of them do fairly good walk-on business, so there's never a shortage of people to play with.

[Trbo323]

weekends are the best for finding walk ons (iv had mixed results with fridays) one of our local fields has a national team practice at (part time ninjas) iv played with a handfull of them, great guys, they will split up so its not a bunch of walk ons playing against pros, and they GIVE POINTERS!! that was the coolist part i thought, every few games one of them would come up to me and give me a pointer on my form. best way to learn is to play with some more experienced people and ask them what you could be doing better

[peachesaretasty]

ive heard of giant monster paintball blowouts at woodsball fields that about 300 people showed up at once. supposedly it was a 15 minute walk to get from the parking area to the field. and along with that came rumors of people just there to have fun, taking it all out of proportion and wearing uniforms, costumes, mascot suits, tuxedos, and the like. fun stuff man.

[Trbo323]

ya there are big games out there, look at OK D-day, i believe there was 3,000 people last year (i really want to go )

[peachesaretasty]

yeah, but i meant like 300 on a random day. i guess it just happens. i mean its great when 30 people show up to play. 300, now if theres enough field space ill take it. haha.

[Trbo323]

300 walk ons? wow ya that is a lot